Textile Laboratory – Fiber Testing

Introduction to textile Laboratory

Nowadays, countries all over the world are advocating green textiles, and more and more environmental protection textiles and clothing are appearing in the market. Through some standard tests to meet the international requirements for textiles and clothing, has become the development direction of brands and trading companies. Textile testing laboratory testing items include composition, color fastness, strength, pH value, formaldehyde, etc. According to the material classification, it can also be divided into fiber testing, yarn testing and fabric testing.

At present, there are mainly 6 famous textile universities in China, namely Donghua University, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Soochow University, Jiangnan University, Zhejiang Polytechnic University and Wuhan Textile University. These universities have their own independent textile laboratories. The textile testing Center of Donghua University is taken as an example to introduce relevant instruments in experimental testing.

Textile Experiment Center of Donghua University is an experimental base for experimental teaching, professional basic training and scientific research. It has three functional areas: textile testing, textile technology and textile CAD. All kinds of textile raw materials, semi-finished products and finished products testing instruments are fully equipped, long fiber spinning, short fiber spinning, weaving, knitting, nonwoven and other main process equipment basic complete sets, with biomedical textile materials, textile structural composite materials professional laboratory.At the same time, it has two standard computer rooms with high-end configurations, and auxiliary testing equipment such as flow field, high-speed photography, precision testing instruments, processing chemistry and testing chemistry, etc. Textile Testing Center of Donghua University has obtained CMA qualification for the testing of fiber, yarn, textile products and their products. In this paper, fiber length measurement, fiber fineness measurement, fiber crimp property measurement, fiber tensile property measurement, fiber specific resistance, fiber moisture recovery, fiber identification several aspects to introduce fiber testing instruments.

Fiber length determination

KX730 Fibrograph

Feature:

• Standard length ruler and optical calibration card are convenient for operators to conduct hardware calibration and self-check on this instrument.
• Specially designed sampling device with complete accessories are supplied for sample preparation, easy to prepare the test beard.

• CPU generates trigger pulse to control the step motor, drive the sampling comb to move at regulated step, making photoelectric scan of the test beard from the root.
• High quality LED light source emits light signal, which reaches the sensitive silicon photocell through the test beard on the sampling comb. The intensity of light passing through the test beard is used as a measure of fiber amount at various distances from the comb.
• Fast test speed, test one result only need 20~30s.
• The software provides a friendly operation interface supported by a reliable database. It can process data automatically to generate fibrograph curve and calculate mean length, upper half mean length, uniformity index and short fiber ratio of the sample.
• Calibration with standard cotton fiber and database creation (including storage, retrieval, print, etc. function) can be conducted in the computer.

Key Specification

Length range of cotton fiber	18~50mm
Tolerance of upper half mean length	±0.5mm
Tolerance of uniformity index	±1.5%
Fiber amount	550~900

Y111 Roller Type Fiber Length Tester

Standards: GB/T6098

Key Specification

Fiber draw-off unit

Front roller diameter	φ8mm
Rear roller diameter	φ16mm
Covered roller diameter	φ17mm
Velvet lap roller diameter	φ66mm
Spacing between the input roller and output roller	16mm~60mm

Fiber analyzer

Input roller diameter	φ19.1mm
Rubber roller diameter	12mm
Fiber roller diameter	10mm

Y131 Comb Sorters

Key Specification

Width of tray	10mm
Number of tray	31

Determination of fiber fineness

JN-B Series Torsion Balance

Key Specification

Model No.	Measure range (mg)	Graduated value (mg)	Dimension (mm)	Weight (kg)
JN-B-5	0~5	0.01	250×210×360	5
JN-B-10	0~10	0.02	250×210×360	5
JN-B-25	0~25	0.05	250×210×360	5
JN-B-50	0~50	0.1	250×210×360	5
JN-B-100	0~100	0.2	250×210×360	5
JN-B-250	0~250	0.5	250×210×360	5
JN-B-500	0~500	1	250×210×360	5
JN-B-1000	0~1000	2	250×210×360	5
JN-B-2500	0~2500	5	250×210×360	5

Y171 Series Fiber Cutter

Key Specification

Model	Y171A	Y171B	Y171C	Y171D
Width of blade	10 mm	20 mm	25 mm	30 mm
Length of blade	45 mm	45 mm	45 mm	45 mm

Y175 Series Cotton Fineness Meter/Micronaire Tester

Application:

Y175 Series Cotton Fineness Meter/Micronaire Tester, it is used to determine cotton fiber’s micronaire value. Using the balance weigh out a test specimen of mass appropriate to the airflow instrument (8g); pack the test specimen evenly into the compression cylinder then put the compression plunger in position. Using the air pump or other suitable means cause air to flow through the specimen at pressure appropriate to air flow instrument and note the reading on the scale.

Standards: ISO 2403   ASTM D1448   GB/T 1103, 6498

Feature:

Y175:

• Low noise air pump;
• Indicator can regulate scale and display test value;
• Ease to operate and read test result;
• High accuracy;
• Collection weighing, test integration;

Y175-I:

• Display micronaire value and grade directly by LED displayer, or display micronaire value, grade count (m/g) and test time by PC displayer if on-line operated;
• High precision test result better than all similar instruments, up to 0.05 micronaire value;
• Weight auto correction function, widen sampling range from 7.51 to 8.50g, let test result much faster and result more accurate;
• All in all, test one specimen only need several second;
• Equipped with high quality air pump, provide constant pressure air current;
• Adopt PC on-line technology, data can be processed by software, and easy to calibrate micronaire value, operate easy, carry on a test with fast speed;
• With data storage, inquire, classification, statistical, and print function by software;

Key Specification

Model	Y175	Y175-I
Display mode	Dial	Digital
Range	2.5~6.5 micronaire value	2.5~6.5 (standard mode) 2.9~6.5 (with weight correction)
Accuracy	0.1 micronaire value	0.05 micronaire value
Weighing accuracy	±0.016g	±0.01g
Rectangle weight	8g	8g

YG002C Series Computerized Fiber Fineness Analysis System

Feature:

YG002C

• Suit for determine the diameter of all kinds of fiber, adopt projection microscope method.
• Meet the demands of ISO 137, IWTO-8, GB/T 10685, etc.
• Professional analysis software, output the data and report forms by EXCEL.

YG002C1

• It includes all functions of YG002C.
• Suit for determine the content of blends product (natural fiber blends). Fiber content can be got by analyzing the single fiber configuration and diameter of blends products.
• Meet the demands of ISO 17751, GB/T 16988, etc.
• Provide the picture database of special animal fiber, chemical fiber, cotton and hemp fiber, it can promote the operator’s differentiate ability.

YG002C2

• It includes all functions of YG002C1.
• Suit for determine the section configuration and sectional area of all kinds of fiber.
• Meet the demands of AATCC 20A, FZ/T 01101, etc.

Key Specification

Model No.	YG002C	YG002C1	YG002C2
Testing method	Projection microscope method	Projection microscope method	1) Projection microscope method 2) Cross-sectional method
Main testing item	Diameter	Diameter Content	Diameter Content Sectional area
Measuring range	2~200um±0.5um(adjustable)	2~200um±0.5um(adjustable)	2~200um±0.5um(adjustable)
Measuring repeatability	±0.1um	±0.1um	±0.1um
Objective lens	Standard 4×, 10×, 20×(Optional: 40×, 100×)	Standard 4×, 10×, 20×(Optional: 40×, 100×)	Standard 4×, 10×, 20×(Optional: 40×, 100×)

Y172 Fiber Microtome（Hardy）

Feature:

• High quality blade for long time use;
• Portable design, easy operation;
• Polished metal surface, beautiful and durable.

Key Specification

Slice area	3×0.8mm
Minimum slice thickness	20µm

ZK100F Fiber Fineness Tester (Vibroscope Method)

Feature:

• Adopt string vibration principle, directly display individual linear density, mean value and coefficient of vibration;
• Microprocessor control, high accuracy, quick test, easy to operate;
• Possible to connect with printer.

Key Specification

Linear density measurement range	0.8~40 dtex
Linear density error	≤±2%
Clamping length	20mm
Tension clamp precision	≤±0.5%
Resonance frequency measurement error	≤±0.5%
Length error	≤±1%

Y145A Wool Fineness Meter

Key Specification

Sampling mass	4.5g±0.01g
Wool fineness range	18~40μm

 Y145B Wool Fineness Tester

Feature:

• Precision flow sensor realizes a wide range of wool fineness measurement, which is the widest range of instruments to test wool fineness by airflow method; 
• Fast test: Install the sample → Press test key → Get the result quickly;
• The instrument with a USB interface, can output test report via computer; 
• Convenient calibration. Users can accurately test wool fineness value through calibration by using the standard wool (optional).

Key Specification

Measuring range	12~50μm
Measuring accuracy	0.1μm (standard lab environment)
Test time	15 seconds on average
Sample mass	(2.5±0.004)g
PC communication	USB port connection

Determination of crimp properties of fibers

YG362B Fiber Crimp Elasticity Tester

Standards: GB/T 14338

Key Specification

Loading device	Tension loader
Load capacity	0~5.00mN, resolution: 0.01mN, fiber fineness: 0.75~7dtex 0~10.00mN, resolution: 0.02mN, fiber fineness: 2~14dtex 0~25.00mN, resolution: 0.05mN, fiber fineness: 3~30dtex (Please choose one of the three load ranges.)
Initial gauge length	20mm
Stroke of lower clamp	≥30mm
Displacement resolution	0.01mm
Displacement reading error	≤0.05mm (within 10mm)
Timing	0.5min, 1min, 2min (three options)

FY111F Fiber Crimp Tester

Feature:

• It adopts the image processing technology to automatically count the number of crimps of the fiber under light load and in length of 25mm;
• Measure load value by load cell and fiber length under given light or heavy load to calculate crimp ratio of fiber;
• Determine fiber length after relaxation due to the effect of heavy load to calculate crimp elastic recovery rate.
• Automatically determine crimp ratio, crimp elastic recovery rate and number of crimps;
• Quick test, high accuracy, easy to operate;

Key Specification

Load measurement range	0~2,000 (10-3cN)
Load resolution	0.1(10-3cN)
Load measurement error	≤±1%
Clamping length	20mm
Stroke of lower clamp	40mm
Length resolution	0.01mm
Timing	Auto
Measurement of crimp No.	Auto
Crimp counting length	25mm

Determination of tensile properties of fibers

YG003E / YG005E Electronic Single Fiber Strength Tester

Application: YG003E / YG005E Electronic Single Fiber Strength Tester is used to determine the breaking strength and elongation at break of single textile fibers, such as, cotton, wool, ramie, silk, glass fibber and chemical fibers. It’s a useful fiber testing machine.

Standards: ISO 5079, 11566  ASTM D3822   BS 4029

Feature:

• Micro-computer control and LCD display, real time display test results;
• Precise load cell with resolution of 0.01cN;
• Super subdivision stepper motor from South Korea and precise ball screw;
• Manual clamp for YG003E, pneumatic clamp for YG005E;

Key Specification

Model No.	YG003E	YG005E
Clamp type	Manual	Pneumatic
Load cell & accuracy	200cN ±0.5%	200cN ±0.5%
Force resolution	0.01cN	0.01cN
Gauge length	10~60mm, digitally-settable	5~60mm, digitally-settable
Max. extension	150mm	150mm

YG011 Fiber Bundle Strength Tester (Stelometer)

Feature:

• Calibrate each stelometer by force measuring and elongation devices that are special designed by our company only, ensure pointer indications (force value and elongation) are match to real value and keep test result stable and high accuracy;
• Special designed table clamps and pressley clamp (we are supplier for USTER) can hold fiber tufts effectively, and avoid slipping or affect test as hold tight;
• Read test values of breaking strength and elongation directly from two scales after finishing test;
• After fiber tufts breaks, there is no malfunction mistakes;
• Test result with high accuracy and with good correlation with yarn strength;

Key Specification

Thickness of sample holding clamp	11.8mm
Thickness of separator	3.2mm
Test Range Breaking Load	20N-70N Elongation 0-50% (3.2mm)
Applying load speed	10N/s, adjustable
Correction Coefficient	0.9-1.1
Environment	20±2℃, 65±3%RH

KX101 Pressley Fiber Strength Tester

Feature:

• The structure is simple, mainly consists of three parts: main machine, specimen clamps and fiber processor (clamp vise);

• Specially designed specimen clamps with following features:

• Specially designed clamp vice with following features:

• There is load scale in pound-force on the beam. The breaking load of bundle fiber can be read out immediately after finishing test;
• With level device to reduce experimental error.

Key Specification

Clamp thickness	11.8mm
Thickness of spacer	3.2mm
Range of breaking load	5~20lbf, accurate to 0.1lbf
Correction factor of tenacity	0.9~1.1

Determination of fiber specific resistance

DW0180 Fiber Specific Resistance Tester

Determination of fibre moisture return

Y412B Raw Cotton Moisture Regain Tester

SK-100 Moisture Content Tester

Key Specification

Probe test range	0~80.0%
Resolution	0.1%
Measurement method	DC resistance type
Display method	LCD
Species choice	1~15
Moisture adjustment	-5.0%~0~+5.0%
Power supply	9V battery 1pc (supplied by customer)

MBS-I Cotton Package Moisture Meter

Key Specification

Temperature range	-40~50℃
Moisture range	3-15%
Accuracy	<0.2%
Min testing time	30s

Fiber identification

F600 Fiber Blend Analyzer

Application: F600 Fiber Blend Analyzer is fiber testing equipment that used to quickly and accurately determine fiber composition of two component blend of wool and synthetic fiber by the chemical method.

Standards: BS 4407, M&S P100, AATCC 20, AATCC 20A, etc.

Key Specification

Measuring range	0.1%~100%
Sample weight	0.5~3g
Working positions	6
Power supply	AC220V 50Hz